LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - The World Health

Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about

contaminated Johnson and Johnson ( JNJ )-made children's cough

syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.

Nigeria's regulator recalled a batch of Benylin syrup last

Wednesday, having found a high level of diethylene glycol in the

product during routine testing.

The contaminant, alongside another closely related toxin,

has been linked to the deaths of more than 300 children in

Gambia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Cameroon since 2022, though

there is no evidence that these incidents are linked with the

new recalls.

The U.N. health body said it puts out global medical product

alerts to "encourage diligence" by national authorities and was

likely to do so in this instance, "subject to confirmation of

certain details from parties".

The batch of Benylin syrup recalled was made by J&J in South

Africa in May 2021, although Kenvue ( KVUE ) now owns the brand

after a spin-off from J&J last year.

J&J has referred requests for comment to Kenvue ( KVUE ). Kenvue ( KVUE ) was

not immediately available for comment, but said this week it was

conducting its own assessment and working with health

authorities to determine a course of action.

Since Nigeria's recall, five other African countries have

also pulled the product from shelves - Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania,

Zimbabwe and South Africa, where the drug was made.

South Africa's regulator has also recalled another batch of

the syrup, which is used to treat coughs, hay fever and other

allergic reactions in children.

Diethylene glycol is toxic to humans when consumed and can

result in acute kidney failure, although there have been no

reports of harm in the latest incident.

In the 2022 cases, the contamination in the syrups came from

the raw materials used by manufacturers in India and Indonesia.

The WHO said it was collaborating with both the manufacturer

and regulatory authority in South Africa to investigate this for

the Benylin paediatric syrup, and had information on the source

of the raw ingredients used. It did not disclose the source.

According to WHO, Kenvue ( KVUE ) said it tested the raw ingredients

used in the syrup before manufacture, and "no issues of concern

were noted".

The agency said the possibility that the syrup was

counterfeit was also "under consideration as part of

investigations".